Women of the Gospels: The Blessed Virgin Mary

My Beloved Son,

How I long to come to you. With each day that passes, my heart yearns to see your face and to embrace you in my arms like I did when you were young.

Oh, my sweet child, I can still remember the fear and confusion I felt when I was on my knees, contemplating the promises spoken to Abraham and praying for the Promised One to come. 1

An angelic being startled me. Was I dreaming? So I tested this spirit by asking how it could be. His response assured me that he was from Heaven and could be trusted. The moment I spoke these words, my life was forever changed: "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord, may it be done to me according to Your word."

Oh, the quiet joy of carrying you safely in my womb, protected from those who would later hurt you.

Our Blessed Mother had a front row seat to the life of Jesus.

Then to see your adorable face! My sweet Jesus, even after a lifetime of sorrow, I cherish the memories of wiping food from your face and dirt from your grubby fingers.

I can still hear your precious voice calling, "Mommy!” And can see that smile greeting me when I close my eyes. A smile that became more handsome year after year.

I often pondered our strange circumstance. The quiet way you came into this world. Your father and I offering you such a meager life. Living as foreigners in a strange land after fleeing to Egypt. 2

You were here, standing right in front of me, the long-awaited, promised Savior, but for so many years, nobody knew.

Simeon warned me of what lay ahead. And every tender moment had the claws of his prophecy dug into it. Call me a woman of contradiction; a genuine smile on my face, while a sword pierced my heart. 3

Despite my pain, loving you was my greatest joy.

While there was nothing "normal" about raising the God-Man, there must have been many "normal" experiences along the way.

I still chuckle when thinking of you helping Papa Joseph. You said you were too big to help Mama with the washing, so you "helped" Papa by sanding a stool for him. At five-years-old, you took your job so seriously. Day after day, you went out, until the afternoon when the door opened, and Papa held you in one arm and a 2-legged stool in the other! You sanded the same spot over and over until you wore clean through the leg!

I cherish so many memories from your youth. I remember when you hit your growth spurt and towered over me! My young son was growing into a man!

And with your size came your strength as you took over the woodshop in your teens when Papa's health declined. And although I had to crane my neck to look into your face, you would bend down, kiss my cheek, and say, "I love you, Mama."

How I missed you when, after 30 years, you set off for those short three years of teaching. I would try to keep some of your favorite foods on hand for surprise visits while you were traveling. I loved hearing the stories from your adventures and taking in your deep laugh, especially when you shared the funny things Peter did and said while on the road.

But then the nightmare that had been lurking in the shadows all those years came to pass. I heard what had happened and have retraced those steps thousands of times, kissing the ground where your blood soaked into it. 4

Prostrating myself where you were crushed by the weight of the terrible cross you were made to carry. And I have spent a lifetime standing, kneeling, sitting, and even lying at the foot of where the hideous cross once stood.

Each time I go to venerate that spot, it is like I am standing there on that terrible day, when even the sun refused to shine.

Our Lady of Sorrows

I know that you are who you say you are.  I know it had to happen like this. But my heart breaks again and again at the thought of the Son of God being executed like a criminal.

I knew you would triumph, but I just couldn't see how. The devil was laughing in my face, further humiliating and torturing me. He thought it was all over and that he had managed to defeat the Almighty One.

But on the third day, the sun rose. As I stepped foot into the garden that morning, I managed to step on the head of a snake. 5 As I did, I heard the depths of the earth bellow out an evil cry of defeat.

“I will put enmity between thee [the serpent] and the woman, and thy seed and her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel.” Genesis 3:15

Startled, I looked up, and there you were, more beautiful than the moon and stars. You leaned down, kissed my cheek, and said, "I love you, Mama!"

Sweet Jesus, I am tired of waiting. I want to come home. John has been good to me, but please let me come home.

With all my love,

Your Adoring Mother

Dear reader,

The Blessed Virgin Mary had a front row seat to the life of Jesus, the second person of the Blessed Trinity. While there was nothing "normal" about raising the God-Man, there must have been many "normal" experiences along the way.

She must have had to teach him to walk, then to talk, basic manners, basic hygiene, and many of the other things that we parents do with our children.

In meditating on some of those small moments in their home growing up, they become more human in our eyes, and in becoming more human, more relatable and lovable.

This letter was a work of fiction, written on Our Blessed Mother's deathbed. According to the visions of Venerable Mary of Agreda, Jesus came to her in her last moments and offered to bring her to heaven with him.

She replied to him, saying, "My son and my Lord, thou didst suffer death without being obliged to do so. It is proper, therefore, that as I have tried to follow thee in life, so I follow thee also in death."

Thus, the Blessed Mother passed on from this life into death, where she was buried. From there, Jesus came himself to collect her sinless body, to reunite it with her in Heaven.

We have much to learn from Mary, our mother. Don't be afraid to ask her to help you learn more about her Son, and, in doing so, to love him more and more.

Until next time, your sister in Christ,

Leah

These bible verses were referenced in the letter, if you would like to further pray with them!

1- The Annunciation in Luke 1:26-38

2- The Flight into Egypt in Matthew 2:13-15

3- The Prophecy of Simeon in Luke 2:25-35

4- Jesus' Passion in Matthew 26-27, Mark 14-15, Luke 22-23, and John 18-19

5- The woman will crush the head of the serpent in Genesis 3:15